PPRC’s research report ‘Karmnishth’ Municipal Corporation of Delhi

Today, Public Policy Research Centre (PPRC) released a report on the achievement of municipal corporations of Delhi titled ‘Karm-Nishth Municipal Corporations of Delhi’. The report was released by Shri Adesh Kumar Gupta, President of BJP Delhi, Dr. Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha and President of ICCR (Ministry of External Affairs), Smt. Meenakshi Lekhi, MoS, Ministry of External Affairs, Shri Dushyant Kumar Gautam, National General Secretary, BJP, Shri Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, Leader of Opposition, Delhi Legislative Assembly, and distinguished Members of Parliament from Delhi region, Shri Gautam Gambhir, Shri Hans Raj Hans, Shri Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma, Shri Ramesh Bidhuri and Director of PPRC, Dr. Sumeet Bhasin. Honourable Mayors of Delhi Shri Raja Iqbal Singh, Shri Shyam Sundar Agrawal and Shri Mukesh Suryan, Committee Members and many other political representatives were also present during release of the report.

Dr. Sumeet Bhasin while giving his opening remarks stated that the study of Delhi’s local governance has been an evolving one – as they have adopted a unique approach towards this project. He further stated that the report has been made based on evidence of over a decade and attempted to understand the changes in the governance landscape of Delhi’s Municipal Corporations. Dr. Bhasin enumerated the role of researchers who carried out the study to bring about the report titled ‘Delhi Tangible Transformation Project’, which made several recommendations which were subsequently considered by the municipal corporations. He added that over the period of 9 years, the MCDs have incorporated the recommendations suggested by the PPRC and played a vital role in transforming the lives in Delhi. Dr. Bhasin also envisioned replication of Window to Wonder which is there in China, to facilitate in revenue generation in MCDs. Dr. Bhasin also stressed on the issues such as sanitation and cleanliness, primary education, health, water logging, traffic congestion, among others, to our dismay, similar issues are being raised now and in fact the situation in Delhi has deteriorated with pollution being a reality and a continuous challenge for the people of Delhi. This was followed by the PowerPoint presentation which gave the glimpse of the achievement of the municipal corporations highlighting how Delhi MCDs have become the face of local governance by addressing issues such as- sanitation, education, health, clean energy, systematic parking, converting waste to wonder and COVID-19 Prevention & Preparedness.

Dr. Vinay Sahasrabuddhe stated that PPRC have undertaken various studies ranging from manifesto reviews to study reports to identify the issues and provide solutions for the same, taking into consideration the critical aspects of governance and explore areas of governance that require the conceptualisation of a new structure. Dr. Sahasrabuddhe stated that the attitude of AAP led Delhi Government have always been Politics of Publicity over Politics of Performance. Dr. Sahasrabuddhe further highlighted that MCDs of Delhi have achieved a lot when it comes to good governance, wherein they strived hard to enhance the ease and standard of living of people residing in Delhi, by providing a remarkable governance model.

Shri Adesh Gupta stated that MCDs of Delhi have been able to serve people of Delhi despite AAP led Delhi Government’s failure to transfer the funds with an aim to paralyse the effectiveness of MCDs. The long pending Rani Jhasi flyover was done away with by MCD of Delhi which provided a hassle-free commute, along with establishment and beautification of Shahdara Jheel which is a major tourist attraction now. 10000 MT waste is being transferred to plants in order to mitigate the issue of waste disposal. The same waste is being used to generate energy and for allied activities. Public Health issues have been effectively addressed by MCDs through incorporating scientific measures and 70% cases have been reduced pertaining to public health due to the efforts made by the MCDs. The medical infrastructure has been ramped up by the MCDs to make the city battle ready for any medical emergency. Hence, we can say that ‘Delhi MCD is Kartvyanishth as well as Karamnishth’

Smt Meenakshi Lekhi spoke about the role played by MCDs in providing better education with improved methods. MCD schools of Delhi have science clubs, smart classrooms, 30 Utkrisht Vidayalayas, 185 Pratibha Vidayalayas etc. to enhance the learning outcome of students of Delhi. The school infrastructure has been ramped up drastically to cater to the needs of education of the people of Delhi. She further added that the SDMC is implementing an ambitious plan of making one smart school at every ward which can provide knowledge based on Arithmetic Sciences or Robotics. It’s the karm nistha of MCDs that has changed the lives of people residing in Delhi in a very effective manner. Smt Lekhi stated that open gyms and LED Street Lights have been first incorporated by the MCDs of Delhi in the country that paved a way for rest of the country to replicate the same.

Shri Gautam Gambhir spoke about initiatives taken by the MCDs in Delhi for management of solid waste, which helped to reduce the pollution in the city, ensuring Greendays a quality life to the people of Delhi. He also said that the corporation has reduced total garbage being sent to Ghazipur site by 600 Metric Tonnes per day which cumulatively stands at a number 216,000 Metric Tonnes per year (40 feet). Shri Gambhir also added that SDMC was declared “Open Defecation Free” corporation area on 5th May, 2018 and stood at 11^th position in All India Ranking with regard to the construction of Public Toilet Complexes and Community Toilet Complexes.

Shri Hansraj Hans through a few couplets highlighted the failed governance model of Kejriwal and comparing it with the performance of MCD which are the real face of local level governance. He further spoke about the role of MCDs in reduction of height and area of the dumpsite, wherein reduction in height and area of the dumpsite took place as 14.90 acres was cleared from 11m high first mound and clearing of second mound is in progress. Talking about clean energy, Shri Hans added that NDMC has installed 1,77,015 LED lights and have successfully installed a total of 1170 KW solar power plants at 164 school sites. Taking the jibe at the AAP government he said “tumhe tumhara jhoot Mubarak, humme hamara kaam Mubarak” and requested everyone to go through this report about the ground level achievements by the MCD.

Shri Ramesh Bidhuri spoke about Swachh Delhi and the role played by the municipal corporations in mitigating the issues of pollution in the city. Talking about the milestone achieved, he added that the SDMC was declared “Open Defecation Free” on 5th May, 2018. Shri Ramesh Bidhuri also added that the SDMC is taking care of more than 6000 parks, planted 1 lakh trees and 1.5 lakh green bushes, purchased 75 electric vehicles and installed 123 charging stations, thereby saving 1.65 lakh litres of petrol and diesel per year and reducing pollution.  Further, in order address the parking issue in the city, the SDMC has constructed the first automatic puzzle parking in Delhi which can accommodate 246 vehicles at a time.

Shri Parvesh Verma spoke about the pending Rs. 13000 Crores that has been stalled by AAP, despite which MCDs achieved their targets. The corporation have installed 3,72,722 LED lights and 108 High Mast & LED Lights in Parks. He further added that he recognises MCDs of Delhi as the top ranking MCD in the country. He added that Mata Gujri hospital have been established to mitigate the issue of healthcare of the people residing in Delhi. Shri Verma also stated that in order to ensure transparency and establish a corruption free governance, a single window approval system was created for the approval of maps of residential and industrial buildings. A science museum has been established in Tagore Garden which is enhancing the ability and knowledge of children. Despite lack of budget, the MCDs have been able to carry out their duties. He stated that AAP led Government neglected the issue of pollution in Yamuna River. While AAP led government did not permitted Chatth Puja, MCDs of Delhi left no stone unturned to facilitate the devotees of Chatth Puja. He further added that the report brings about the works done by of MCDs of Delhi.

Shri Ramvir Singh Bidhuri in his closing remarks congratulated the team PPRC for enumerating the works done by MCDs of Delhi. He also asked the Central Government to get an amendment in Delhi MCDs so that the funds could be transferred directly in the reserves of municipal corporation. He enumerated the three MCDs administer over 14000 parks and have utilised creativity at its best. He further added that, the MCDs have installed nearly 900 water harvesting systems, over 500 sprinkle irrigation system in parks and has planted over 3 lakh plants in various playgrounds and parks.